In 1927 five women brought a case to the Supreme Court of Canada to establish the right of women to be appointed to the Senate. These women were Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney, and Irene Parlby. At the time women were not legally recognized as “persons” and could be denied rights based on narrow interpretations of the law. In fact, while some women in Canada gained the right to vote in 1916, many women — particularly women of colour — did not. By 1960, all women in Canada won the right to vote.

In recognition of the “Famous Five” bringing this case to the SCC, we have chosen five of our women authors to spotlight for Women’s History Month. These authors produce award-winning writing we love to read, and we’ve included some of their reviews and interviews as well.

Here’s a brief book list for our “Famous Five” interpretation:

Today, the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association announced the shortlist for the 2018 Best Atlantic Published Book Award, which recognizes excellence in Atlantic Canadian publishing. Of the five finalists, two titles published by Goose Lane Editions are being recognized for their excellence:

• Powered by Love: A Grandmothers’ Movement to End AIDS in Africa by Joanna Henry, with Ilana Landsberg-Lewis and Alexis MacDonald
• SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft from Nunatsiavut by Heather Igloliorte.